Linked shooting belt

Abstract

An outer belt for use with inner-outer belt systems includes a series of multiple belt links pivotally attached with roll pins. Each link supports hook or loop fasteners along the inner surface of the belt link and includes extensions having channels disposed therethrough to accept a roll pin when interlocked with extensions on an adjacent link. Serially connecting several belt links forms a belt, and opposite ends of the serially connected belt links attach to a catch link and an expandable buckle assembly. The expandable buckle assembly includes a face plate supporting two translatable connectors held biased together with a resilient member and cooperates with the catch link when the outer belt is worn by a shooter around his waist. Additionally, when a shooter is wearing an inner belt of an inner-outer belt system, the hook or loop fasteners secure the outer belt to the inner belt.

I claim: 
     
       1. A linked outer belt of an inner-outer shooting belt system comprising:
 a) a plurality of belt links pivotally connected in series, wherein the combined connected belt links have a first end and a second end and wherein each belt link comprises:
 i) a rigid link body comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end, and a second end, wherein the first end of each link body is configured to pivotally connect with the second end of an adjacent link body; and 
 ii) a link insert attached to the link body at the link body inner surface between the first and second ends of the link body, wherein the link insert comprises a hook and loop fastener component; and 
 
 b) a buckle system comprising:
 i) a catch pivotally attached to the first end of the serially connected belt links; and 
 ii) an expandable buckle assembly pivotally attached to the second end of the serially connected belt links, wherein the expandable buckle assembly comprises a buckle hook that removably attaches to the catch;
 a face plate comprising a lower surface, a first end, a second end, and a guide disposed along the lower surface from the first end to the second end; 
 a first connector slidably disposed on the face plate guide near the first end of the face plate, wherein the first connector comprises the buckle hook that removably attaches to the catch; 
 a second connector slidably disposed on the face plate guide near the second end of the face plate, wherein second connector pivotally attaches to the second end of the serially connected belt links; and 
 a resilient link connecting the first connector to the second connector. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The linked belt of  claim 1  wherein the first connector further comprises a first anchor, the second connector comprises a second anchor, and the resilient link comprises an O-ring attached to the first anchor and second anchor. 
     
     
       3. The linked belt of  claim 1  wherein the expandable buckle assembly first connector further comprises a grip along a perimeter of the first connector. 
     
     
       4. The linked belt of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of roll pins, wherein the first end of a link body defines a first extension channel and is configured to interlock with the second end of an adjacent belt link body with one of the plurality of roll pins and wherein the second end of the link body defines a second extension channel and is configured to interlock with the first end of an adjacent belt link body with one of the plurality of roll pins. 
     
     
       5. The linked belt of  claim 4  wherein the catch defines catch channels, the catch pivotally attaches to the first end of the serially connected belt links with one of the plurality of roll pins disposed in the catch channels and first extension channels of the link body, the second connector defines connector channels, and the connector pivotally attaches to the second end of the serially connected belt links with one of the plurality of roll pins disposed in the connector channels and second extension channels of the link body. 
     
     
       6. The linked belt of  claim 5  wherein the link body of each belt link further comprises:
 a) first extensions integral with and extending from the first end of the link body, wherein the first extensions define the first extension channels; and 
 b) second extensions integral with and extending from the second end of the link body, wherein the second extensions define the first second extension channels. 
 
     
     
       7. The linked belt of  claim 6  wherein the link body of each belt link further comprises:
 a) a first stopper flange along the link body outer surface at the link body first end between individual first extensions; and 
 b) a second stopper flange along the link body outer surface at the link body second end between individual second extensions. 
 
     
     
       8. The linked belt of  claim 7  wherein the link insert hook and loop fastener component comprises a plurality of injection molded hooks configured to cooperate with hook and loop fastener loops. 
     
     
       9. A linked outer belt of an inner-outer shooting belt system comprising:
 a) a plurality of belt links pivotally connected in series, wherein the combined connected belt links have a first end and a second end and wherein each belt link comprises:
 i) a rigid link body comprising an outer surface, a first recessed section along the outer surface, an inner surface, a second recessed section along the inner surface, a center section defining a plurality of openings disposed between the first and second recessed sections, a first end, and a second end, wherein the first end of each link body is configured to pivotally connect with the second end of an adjacent link body; 
 ii) a plurality of roll pins, wherein each roll pin pivotally connects the first end of a link body to the second end of an adjacent link body; and 
 iii) a link insert attached to the link body at the link body inner surface between the first and second ends of the link body, wherein the link insert comprises a hook and loop fastener component and fits within the first and second recessed sections and plurality of openings; and 
 
 b) a buckle system comprising:
 i) a catch pivotally attached to the first end of the serially connected belt links; and 
 ii) an expandable buckle assembly pivotally attached to the second end of the serially connected belt links, wherein the expandable buckle assembly comprises a buckle hook that removably attaches to the catch. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The linked belt of  claim 9  wherein the link body of each belt link further comprises:
 a) first extensions integral with and extending from the first end of the link body, wherein each first extension defines a first extension channel and is configured to interlock with the second end of an adjacent belt link body and to accommodate one of the plurality of roll pins; and 
 b) second extensions integral with and extending from the second end of the link body, wherein each second extension defines a second extension channel and is configured to interlock with the first end of an adjacent belt link body and to accommodate one of the plurality of roll pins. 
 
     
     
       11. The linked belt of  claim 10  wherein the link body of each belt link further comprises:
 a) a first stopper flange along the link body outer surface at the link body first end between individual first extensions; and 
 b) a second stopper flange along the link body outer surface at the link body second end between individual second extensions. 
 
     
     
       12. The linked belt of  claim 11  wherein the link insert hook and loop fastener component comprises a collection of injection molded hooks configured to cooperate with hook and loop fastener loops. 
     
     
       13. A linked outer belt of an inner-outer shooting belt system comprising:
 a) a plurality of belt links pivotally connected in series, wherein the combined connected belt links have a first end and a second end and wherein each belt link comprises:
 i) a rigid link body comprising an outer surface, a first recessed section along the outer surface, an inner surface, a second recessed section along the inner surface, a center section defining a plurality of openings disposed between the first and second recessed sections, a first end, and a second end, wherein the first end of each link body is configured to pivotally connect with the second end of an adjacent link body; and 
 ii) a link insert attached to the link body at the link body inner surface between the first and second ends of the link body, wherein the link insert comprises a hook and loop fastener component and fits within the first and second recessed sections and plurality of openings; and 
 
 b) a buckle system comprising:
 i) a catch pivotally attached to the first end of the serially connected belt links; and 
 ii) an expandable buckle assembly pivotally attached to the second end of the serially connected belt links, wherein the expandable buckle assembly comprises a buckle hook that removably attaches to the catch. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The linked belt of  claim 13  wherein the link insert of each belt link further comprises an upper insert section that cooperates with first recessed section of the link body, a lower insert section that cooperates with second recessed section of the link body, and a plurality of pillars extending from and integrally connected with the lower insert section and upper insert section, wherein each pillar of the plurality of pillars extends through an opening of the plurality of openings in the center section of the link body. 
     
     
       15. The linked belt of  claim 13  wherein the link insert hook and loop fastener component comprises a plurality of injection molded hooks configured to cooperate with hook and loop fastener loops. 
     
     
       16. The linked belt of  claim 14  wherein the link insert hook and loop fastener component comprises a plurality of injection molded hooks configured to cooperate with hook and loop fastener loops. 
     
     
       17. A linked belt comprising:
 a) a plurality of belt links serially connected, wherein the serially connected belt links have a first end and a second end and wherein each belt link comprises:
 i) a rigid link body having an outer surface and an inner surface, a first end, and a second end, the link body comprising:
 1) at least two first extensions integral with and extending from the first end of the link body, wherein each first extension defines a first extension channel; 
 2) a first stopper flange disposed along the outer surface of the link body at the link body first end between individual first extensions; 
 3) At least two second extensions integral with and extending from the second end of the link body, wherein each second extension defines a second extension channel and wherein the second extensions and first extensions are configured to interlock such that the first extension channels and second extension channels align; and 
 4) a second stopper flange disposed along the outer surface of the link body at the link body second end between individual second extensions; and 
 
 ii) a link insert attached to the link body between the first and second ends of the link body and at the link body inner surface wherein the link insert comprises a hook and loop fastener component; 
 
 b) a plurality of roll pins configured to attach the first end of a belt link body to the second end of an adjacent belt link body wherein at each connection one of the plurality of roll pins is disposed through the aligned first extension channels and the second extension channels of the interlocking first and second ends of the adjacent belt link bodies; and 
 c) a buckle system comprising:
 i) a catch pivotally connected to the first end of the serially connected belt links comprising a connector bar; and 
 ii) an expandable buckle assembly attached to the second end of the serially connected belt links, wherein the expandable buckle assembly comprises:
 1) a face plate comprising a lower surface, a first end, a second end, and a guide disposed along the lower surface from the first end to the second end; 
 2) a first connector slidably disposed on the face plate guide near the first end of the face plate, wherein the first connector comprises a buckle hook that removably attaches to the catch connector bar; 
 3) a second connector slidably disposed on the face plate guide near the second end of the face plate, wherein second connector pivotally attaches to the second end of the serially connected belt links; and 
 4) A resilient link connecting the first connector to the second connector. 
 
 
 
     
     
       18. The linked belt of  claim 17  wherein:
 a) the link body of each belt link further comprises a first recessed section along the link body outer surface, a second recessed section along the link body inner surface, and a center section defining a plurality of openings disposed between the first and second recessed sections; and 
 b) the link insert of each belt link further comprises an upper insert section that cooperates the first recessed section of the link body, a lower insert section that cooperates with second recessed section of the link body and comprises a collection of injection molded hooks configured to cooperate with hook and loop fastener loops, and a plurality of pillars extending from and integrally connected with the lower insert section and upper insert section, wherein each pillar of the plurality of pillars extends through an opening of the plurality of openings in the center section of the link body. 
 
     
     
       19. The linked belt of  claim 17  wherein the first connector further comprises a first anchor, the second connector comprises a second anchor, and the resilient link comprises an O-ring attached to the first anchor and the second anchor.